OT: Game of Thrones (official thread) (warning: some spoilers)

[Fedaykin]

Originally Posted by Taco John

FYI - [ spoiler ] tags are working. Just put whatever the spoiler is between the tags.

SPOILER: ( sweet! thanks )

[Jay3]

Originally Posted by JLesSPE

In the preview for next week Jaquen mentions that he owes Arrya 3 lives or something to that effect so I imagine it'll happen next week. There is just so much detail to put into ~10 hours of film. Oh well, its still fun to watch.

Plus I think her praying the names of those she wants to kill is somewhat of an indicator that the 3 lives will be centrally featured. It's just that she opened the cage last week, so it's about time they got around to it.

SPOILER: ( The people who do not read the spoiler-tagged material are stupid, not smart like those of us reading this. )

[Bronco Rob]

.

[DarkHorse30]

(spoiler alert) read them up until the point where theon (spoiler spoiler quit reading if you are hungry for HBO to poop out another episode) offs Bran and Rickon....for no apparent reason. All the good people die. What's the point of watching? it's nearly as laughable as vampire or zombies movies.

If you are into incest, bastards, dwarves and direwolves this miniseries is right up your alley. It's obvious to me that HBO and Hollyweird in general are playing us like a bunch dummies who can't read. Seriously. Incest is the crux of the story line? Nice...... if only I had sisters.

[myMind]

Originally Posted by DarkHorse30

(spoiler alert) read them up until the point where theon (spoiler spoiler quit reading if you are hungry for HBO to poop out another episode) offs Bran and Rickon....for no apparent reason. All the good people die. What's the point of watching? it's nearly as laughable as vampire or zombies movies.

If you are into incest, bastards, dwarves and direwolves this miniseries is right up your alley. It's obvious to me that HBO and Hollyweird in general are playing us like a bunch dummies who can't read. Seriously. Incest is the crux of the story line? Nice...... if only I had sisters.

Then don't watch it...and learn how to use the new spoiler tag system

[DarkHorse30]

Originally Posted by fixedMind

Then don't watch it...and learn how to use the new spoiler tag system

I'm not - I'm just surprised after all the hoopla over this series, after reading them the books were bad to begin with.

[sirhcyennek81]

Originally Posted by Bronco Rob

.

Right...

[underrated29]

Originally Posted by DarkHorse30

(spoiler alert) read them up until the point where theon (spoiler spoiler quit reading if you are hungry for HBO to poop out another episode) offs Bran and Rickon....for no apparent reason. All the good people die. What's the point of watching? it's nearly as laughable as vampire or zombies movies.

If you are into incest, bastards, dwarves and direwolves this miniseries is right up your alley. It's obvious to me that HBO and Hollyweird in general are playing us like a bunch dummies who can't read. Seriously. Incest is the crux of the story line? Nice...... if only I had sisters.

Wow this post is about as epically stupid as that one dude who said as a parent I do not approve of this show.


Guess what dude, your ugly but we still have to see your face. You don't hear is b****ing about it

[Fedaykin]

Originally Posted by DarkHorse30

(spoiler alert) read them up until the point where theon (spoiler spoiler quit reading if you are hungry for HBO to poop out another episode) offs Bran and Rickon....for no apparent reason. All the good people die. What's the point of watching? it's nearly as laughable as vampire or zombies movies.

If you are into incest, bastards, dwarves and direwolves this miniseries is right up your alley. It's obvious to me that HBO and Hollyweird in general are playing us like a bunch dummies who can't read. Seriously. Incest is the crux of the story line? Nice...... if only I had sisters.

SPOILER: ( They don't die, they trick Theon. Theon just makes it look like their dead by killing some innocent kids that are similar in appearance and burning the bodies.

And, there hasn't been any incest (implied or otherwise) that wasn't in the books. What's your beef?

)

[ZONA]

I've watched this series now 1.5 years and I give it a solid B. It just has too much of a "soap" feel to it for an A

Of course I love the series Dexter the most but Homeland really shocked me at how good it was. One of the best 1st year series I have seen so far. And I watch all of the SHO, HBO series. The Borgias is good also, give that one a B. Also got to give a shout out to Shameless, very clever and never a dull moment.

[Fedaykin]

Originally Posted by ZONA

I've watched this series now 1.5 years and I give it a solid B. It just has too much of a "soap" feel to it for an A

A couple people have said that. What, exactly, makes it have a "soap" feel?

[McDman]

Originally Posted by DarkHorse30

(spoiler alert) read them up until the point where theon (spoiler spoiler quit reading if you are hungry for HBO to poop out another episode) offs Bran and Rickon....for no apparent reason. All the good people die. What's the point of watching? it's nearly as laughable as vampire or zombies movies.

If you are into incest, bastards, dwarves and direwolves this miniseries is right up your alley. It's obvious to me that HBO and Hollyweird in general are playing us like a bunch dummies who can't read. Seriously. Incest is the crux of the story line? Nice...... if only I had sisters.

Guess you quit reading, eh?

[DarkHorse30]

Originally Posted by McDman

Guess you quit reading, eh?

90% into Clash of Kings. SPOILER: ( I just figured, every hero is dying. If you're into that, fine. But I'm not. ) I think the guy is a good writer, he drew me right in SPOILER: ( with the Starks finding the direwolves. Cool. But it's just one stark dying off after another and then after nearly every Stark is killed off you think to yourself, ) "I've got 2 books left of this? Crikey"

[DarkHorse30]

Fedaykin - point taken.SPOILER: ( I'm not patient enough to assume that the kids were alive, especially after their dad bit it at the hands of Cersei's son (from her brother - really? is that a necessary plot line?) maybe I just needed to read longer but the cliffhanger getting you into the 3rd book? I read a lot but this series was too dark and too ugly to be watchable. Plus, you can't watch it with your kids either....what's the point? )

[Fedaykin]

Originally Posted by DarkHorse30

Fedaykin - point taken.SPOILER: ( I'm not patient enough to assume that the kids were alive, especially after their dad bit it at the hands of Cersei's son (from her brother - really? is that a necessary plot line?) maybe I just needed to read longer but the cliffhanger getting you into the 3rd book? I read a lot but this series was too dark and too ugly to be watchable. Plus, you can't watch it with your kids either....what's the point? )

You don't understand why the Cersei & Jaime incest plot is perhaps _the_ most pivotal event in the recent history of this universe? It has ramifications that haven't even been realized yet. Westeros is divided and war torn because of it while going into what promises to be a long (10+ years) winter, the white walkers are returning and Dany is coming back to reclaim her birthright.

It's absolutely a necessary plot line -- it's what sets everything in motion. Without that plot line, life just goes on in Westeros (awaiting the return of the white walkers and Danerys anyway). It completely alters the political, military and social order of the seven kingdoms.

If you don't like -- that's fine to each his own, but you seem to be deeply misunderstanding a lot about what's going on.

Also, a story isn't any good if you can't watch it with your kids? Are you really saying that?

[Taco John]

I love this saga. I'm 80% into Storm of Swords, and I'm gripped. There's just not enough hours in the day for me right now.

I'm going to be sad when I get to the end of the last book.

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by Taco John

I love this saga. I'm 80% into Storm of Swords, and I'm gripped. There's just not enough hours in the day for me right now.

I'm going to be sad when I get to the end of the last book.

Don't worry. The quality will fall off greatly after SoS, so its not that bad.

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

Don't worry. The quality will fall off greatly after SoS, so its not that bad.

I dunno. I thought a Dance With Dragons was stellar, but a Feast for Crows was a little slow due to all the new characters and settings. I've probably read Feast a solid five times now, it definitely grows on you at least. The series as a whole is still my favorite fantasy saga by a mile ahead of Sword of Truth and Symphany of Ages.


As for the HBO series, I think they're doing a good job on something I never thought could be brought to life. I disagree that the show is too dark as some other recent posters have opined. I think there are some great life lessons on treachery and overcoming obstacles. Above all else, I find the story one of overcoming adversity, and I fully expect the "good guys" to win in the end. I just like that figuring out whom the good guys are is difficult.

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by Mat'hir Uth Gan

I dunno. I thought a Dance With Dragons was stellar, but a Feast for Crows was a little slow due to all the new characters and settings. I've probably read Feast a solid five times now, it definitely grows on you at least. The series as a whole is still my favorite fantasy saga by a mile ahead of Sword of Truth and Symphany of Ages.


As for the HBO series, I think they're doing a good job on something I never thought could be brought to life. I disagree that the show is too dark as some other recent posters have opined. I think there are some great life lessons on treachery and overcoming obstacles. Above all else, I find the story one of overcoming adversity, and I fully expect the "good guys" to win in the end. I just like that figuring out whom the good guys are is difficult.

I dont think its even remotely debatable that more happens in SoS than aFfC and aDwD combined.

Combine that with him having to scrap his original plans two times over (1: to have a multi-year delay in between SoS and aFfC and 2: having to split book 4 into 1.5 books) along with his noted regrets for leaving things hanging as he did at the end of aDwD (also has said in next book all three dangling plot lines will be resolved VERY quickly) and you have exactly what I said... a very good story line that's just not executed nearly as well as SoS was.

[Old Dude]

I think they are doing an amazing job with the TV adaptation.

Long before Martin wrote GoT, his bread and butter was TV screenplay. When that was over, he was sick and tired of writing within those restraints, so he threw all of them out in GoT which was never intended to make it to any sort of screen.

Ironically, here we are, and the writers and producers have to figure out some way to adapt an unadaptable story - - a huge cast, including many young children, incredibly complicated storylines, a deliberately uneven pace, dozens of unique locations that play a major role in the political and military landscape, major characters getting knocked off left and right, lots of gore, lots of FX, characters who have deliberately obscure motives, characters who pop up at one point in the story and then aren't seen or heard from again for thousands of pages and so forth.

They've had to somehow streamline this story far more than LotR and get the jist of someone's character across in just one or two scenes that otherwise evolved through multiple chapters in the books. At the same time, they have to add expositions to get across points only slowly implied by the books.

Then there's the cast. They can hardly hire an actor to play in one scene this season, and then sit on the sidelines for two years. (Looks like they've already had that problem with Gregor Clegane).

All things considered, I'm really impressed with the product. But remember, it's an adaptation, and, by definition, it's not going to be the same.

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by Old Dude

All things considered, I'm really impressed with the product. But remember, it's an adaptation, and, by definition, it's not going to be the same.

They've done AMAZING work with the tv show. I'm fully on board with the changes theyve made. SPOILER: (No Jojen or Meera, going straight to Harrenhal, having Arya be Tywin's cupbeared instead of a beaten servant until Roose, having Davos sneak Melisandre in on the first shadow instead of the second one so its not so out of left field, etc)

[DarkHorse30]

Originally Posted by Fedaykin

Also, a story isn't any good if you can't watch it with your kids? Are you really saying that?

Yes - murder and mayem is ok by me, but incest? And really all the sex scenes, it's like watching porn with your family. Seriously, think about it. Porn_with_with_your_family.....plus a little incest. Nice.

The book sounds a lot more interesting when you lay it out, but the falderal getting to the good parts is a buncha bunk.

[peacepipe]

Originally Posted by DarkHorse30

Yes - murder and mayem is ok by me, but incest? And really all the sex scenes, it's like watching porn with your family. Seriously, think about it. Porn_with_with_your_family.....plus a little incest. Nice.

The book sounds a lot more interesting when you lay it out, but the falderal getting to the good parts is a buncha bunk.

go **** yourself, you got nothing better to do than b**** about a TV show that you don't think is appropriate for your kids. don't ****ing watch it & you won't have nothing to b**** about. last I ****ing checked game of thrones was never meant to be a show for kids. JFC, your sensitive.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by Old Dude

I think they are doing an amazing job with the TV adaptation.

Long before Martin wrote GoT, his bread and butter was TV screenplay. When that was over, he was sick and tired of writing within those restraints, so he threw all of them out in GoT which was never intended to make it to any sort of screen.

Ironically, here we are, and the writers and producers have to figure out some way to adapt an unadaptable story - - a huge cast, including many young children, incredibly complicated storylines, a deliberately uneven pace, dozens of unique locations that play a major role in the political and military landscape, major characters getting knocked off left and right, lots of gore, lots of FX, characters who have deliberately obscure motives, characters who pop up at one point in the story and then aren't seen or heard from again for thousands of pages and so forth.

They've had to somehow streamline this story far more than LotR and get the jist of someone's character across in just one or two scenes that otherwise evolved through multiple chapters in the books. At the same time, they have to add expositions to get across points only slowly implied by the books.

Then there's the cast. They can hardly hire an actor to play in one scene this season, and then sit on the sidelines for two years. (Looks like they've already had that problem with Gregor Clegane).

All things considered, I'm really impressed with the product. But remember, it's an adaptation, and, by definition, it's not going to be the same.

Great post. Martin also uses the political intricacies and nuances of the medieval political landscape, particularly including the borderline incestuous aspect of the way royals used marriage to broker agreements and gain political power, as a source of inspiration in his works. This is why, as it was back then, the story isn't cut-and-dry or working in the framework of a typical narrative. You aren't going to get a normal hero-villain story arc. I think that is what makes so good; It's originality. However I do understand why that doesn't work for everyone.

[Kaylore]

And the idea that Bill Clinton is Robert Baratheon is offensive to both men. Clinton was a draft-dodger and Robert really only knew war. Clinton is politically brilliant with a reputation for balancing the budget. Robert was politically simple-minded and spent like a mad man. Honestly Robert is Closer to W. than to Clinton.